Roasted Romaine Lettuce Salad with Lemon and Parmesan

Roasted Romaine Lettuce Salad with Lemon and Parmesan, made on the grill or in the oven, delivers tasty charred romaine, fresh lemon, and Parmesan.

7 Minute Roasted Romaine Lettuce Salad

I focus on creating Midwest comfort food made practical for real kitchens here, and this roasted romaine done in 7 minutes hits.

I know cooked lettuce probably doesn't sound like something you would usually crave. But trust me when I tell you, this simple recipe is crave-worthy.

The first time I ate a version of this salad was at Wilder's Steakhouse in Joplin, Missouri, which happens to be an amazing old-school steakhouse near me. I left that night thinking about how I would work to recreate it as soon as I could get home.

Why Roast or Grill Romaine Lettuce?

Roasted or Grilled Romaine Lettuce Salad is one of my favorite things.

• All those nooks and crannies are begging to be coated in flavor and elevated with a little char.
• A perfect, quick, healthy side salad or base for a salad main dish.
• Easy to roast or grill alongside your grilled or roasted meats.
• The lemon brings a bright, fresh acid to the warm, charred romaine.
• The shaved parmesan gives a richness with little effort.

Try These Other Favorite Salad Recipes

So many delicious salads to choose from. These are some of my favorites.

What to Make with Roasted Romaine

Sous Vide Pork Tenderloin or Sous Vide Whole Chicken are ideal main courses for this salad.

Grill a Rodeo Burger, Sweet and Spicy Bacon Burger, or Porky Burger, and then use the hot grill to roast the romaine.

For a comforting option, pair it with One Pot Lasagna Soup and a buttered slice of Soft French Bread.

Thank you for sharing this recipe, one I've wanted to make forever. It is so easy and makes even an ordinary weeknight meal special.

--Kelli M.

Ingredients for Roasted Romaine Lettuce Salad

There are so many topping options to add to this warm salad. I'm sharing the basic topics and some suggestions that I hope inspires you to make this salad your own.

• Romaine Hearts, cut in half - The dense structure of the head of romaine makes it perfect for this technique.
• Olive Oil
• Fresh Lemon Juice - use fresh squeezed, if possible
• Parmesan Cheese, shaved - the bigger flakes of cheese give it a more robust presence in the finished salad
• Steak Seasoning such as McCormick Grill Mates Montreal Steak Seasoning - alternatively use sea salt, fresh cracked black pepper, and dried garlic.
• Optional: chopped pecans or walnuts, feta cheese crumbles, blue cheese crumbles, croutons, bacon crumbles, pickled red onions, green onions, pumpkin seeds, pine nuts, etc.

How to Make Roasted Romaine Lettuce Salad with Lemon and Parmesan

On cold days, I love being able to roast a head of romaine in the hot oven. Plus, I can do enough for everyone on one sheet pan.

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. Using a sharp knife, cut romaine hearts in half lengthwise through the core keeping the halves intact.
3. Brush both sides of lettuce halves with olive oil and sprinkle with steak seasoning.
4. Place the cut side of the lettuce on a sheet pan or cast iron skillet and roast until the lettuce starts to char slightly.
5. Remove to a serving platter squeeze fresh lemon juice inside and sprinkle shaved parmesan cheese over top. Enjoy halves of romaine immediately.

Grilled Romaine Salad

If you're having grilled meat, why not a grilled salad, too? Throw it straight on the grill for a super easy side dish that is totally next level and will impress your guests.

1. Preheat your outdoor grill or grill pan to medium-high heat.
2. In the meantime, cut romaine hearts in half lengthwise through the core keeping the halves intact.
3. Brush both sides of lettuce halves with olive oil and sprinkle with steak seasoning.
4. Place the cut side of the lettuce on the hot grill pan or grill grates. Grill until lettuce starts to char slightly.
5. Remove to a serving platter squeeze fresh lemon juice and sprinkle shaved parmesan cheese over top. Enjoy halves of romaine immediately.

Top Tips

Make sure the lettuce is completely dry before roasting or grilling. Extra water on the leaves will create steam making the lettuce soggy.

FAQ

Variations of Roasted Romaine Lettuce Salad

There are endless ways to use Roasted Romaine Lettuce. Here are a few flavor combinations that turn a side salad into a main course.

Grilled Chicken and Roasted Romaine Salad - Top grilled or roasted romaine with grilled chicken breasts and add toppings of your choice.

Grilled Caesar Salad - Omit the lemon juice and top with Caesar dressing instead.

BLT Salad with Roasted Romaine - Top roasted romaine halves with chopped bacon and fresh tomatoes for a fantastic summer salad.

Chicken Bacon Ranch Roasted Romaine Salad - Add crumbled bacon, ranch dressing, halved grape tomatoes, red onion slices, and grilled chicken.

Balsamic Roasted Romain Salad - Leave off the lemon juice and drizzle with a balsamic reduction for a tasty variation.

Storing Roasted Romaine

This salad is best eaten immediately so only roast or grill the amount that will be eaten. The good news is that it's fast and simple to make fresh.

Pairing

DID YOU TRY THIS RECIPE?

Lastly, if you made Roasted Romaine Lettuce Salad following this recipe, please let me know how you liked it by leaving a comment and/or giving a 5-star rating!

I love hearing from you! I'll do my best to respond to each comment.

And of course, if you do make this recipe, tag @laughingroostereats on Instagram and Facebook.